A VOTE TO LEAVE THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY A SOURCE OF CONCERN IN RELATION TO THE WELSH LANGUAGE

Dyfodol i’r Iaith have expressed concern over the possible effect that a vote to leave the European Community may have on the Welsh language.

The language benefits greatly from the collaboration between the supporters of minority languages across Europe

The European Parliament has been an important platform for political co-operation in favour of the Welsh language and other languages, as borne out by the recent successes of politicians from Wales in raising the status of the Welsh language within the European Union’s own institutions.

The Council of Europe has shown leadership in promoting the European Charter for Minority or Regional Languages, which sets duties under International law on the United Kingdom to promote and protect the Welsh language and the other indigenous languages of the British Isles and Ireland. Closer collaboration between the European Union and Council is taking place, and this offers exciting possibilities for further enhancing the status of the Welsh language

If the UK leaves the European Community there is a danger that these opportunities will be lost.

Since the nature of the relationship between the UK and the EU following a no vote is currently unclear, the uncertainty in relation to the Welsh language, as in the case of the economy remains a source of anxiety.

 

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